R40m lotto money for youth fest OK

2010-12-12 20:29

Johannesburg - All appropriate procedures were followed in the granting of R40m to the National Youth Development Agency for them to host the World Festival of Youth and Students, the National Lottery Board said on Sunday.

"The decision is based on the merit of the application and is consistent with other grants made for similar requests and purposes," said chair of the board Alfred Nevhutanda.

He said the event held national and international importance and impacted on local youth development and these factors were considered in the giving of the grant.

He said the kind of grant given for the World Festival of Youth and Students was considered a miscellaneous grant.

" Up to five percent of the total amount of R1.5bn available this year for distribution may be allocated under the provisions for miscellaneous grants."

Meanwhile, earlier this week, the Democratic Alliance criticised the amount given by the lottery towards the festival.

This followed NYDA executive chairperson Andile Lungisa's announcement that R40m of its R69m budget for the conference had come from the National Lotteries Board.

DA Federal Youth Leader Makashe Gana said "It beggars belief that the National Lottery will be handing over R40m in funding to the World Youth Festival's anachronistically themed 'Lets defeat imperialism' conference.

"It would appear that in the Board's opinion, a one week festival catering for international delegates who, when not debating the finer points of obscure ideological dispute, shall be partying and networking, is more important than keeping the doors of shelters for the homeless open," he said.

The festival starts on December 13 in Pretoria and runs until December 21.

The World Festival of Youth and Students has previously been held in Pyongyang, North Korea; Havana, Cuba; and Caracas, Venezuela.

Member parties who made up the event include the Zanu-PF Youth League from Zimbabwe, and the youth league of the Workers' Party of North Korea.

Meanwhile on Sunday, the City of Tshwane said that it was ready to host the festival.

"The City is looking forward to a successful hosting of the festival."

Comments

Carolyn - 2010-12-12 21:24

And the poor get poorer, and the hungry get hungrier and the homeless live on the streets. What a waste of bloddy money. and you call this Christmas.

HadEnuf - 2010-12-14 07:43

Spot on. This is what Africans do - spend vast sums of money on feeding their ego or their own pockets. Who cares about the pathetic health and education systems !

Blip - 2010-12-12 21:26

Boycott the Lotto if they insist on wasting the money on throwing boozy parties for Malema and his pals. Don't buy Lotto tickets in future.

Neville - 2010-12-12 22:49

The money you normally spend on the lottery, donate to the charity of your choice. If enough people did this the lottery would go broke.

Pat Bromilow-Downing - 2010-12-13 10:24

I agree 100% and have made a promise to myself never to buy another loot(to) ticket again.

GT - 2010-12-12 21:36

Disgrace, a complete and utter disgrace. However, I think we could spend double that on sending most of the ANCYL leadership on a one way pact finding trip to Pyongyang.
Do these mumpara's know anything about North Korea. Not even the Chinese would have them for dinner. Why will Julius not go to Shanghai to see what progressive really means.

HowardX - 2010-12-12 21:42

The issue is not whether "appropriate procedures were followed" but rather whether it is appropriate to donate such a large sum of money to a dubious conference when there are so many more urgent and desperate causes.

Mike@CapeT - 2010-12-12 22:31

North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela......great company chaps!

Thinta Relevo - 2010-12-12 22:34

What youth fest? Mellville, the Squar, Newtown. Those places have youth fests EVERYDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Proudly SA - 2010-12-12 22:47

It is really immoral that firstly Government money and money collected by Lotto for distribution to organisations assisting poor been used for this event. There is no justification for the allocation and absolutely no benefit to the country. How do desperate organsisations doing their best to feed school children, HIV Orphans, give penioners dignity etc who are constantly cold shouldered by Lotto board feel? This event is of no relevance to the country and an insult to many (incl some Government Ministers) who are going out of way to set an economic climate condusive to growth and job cretaion. A glimpse at parts of the agenda as well as some of selected speakers is nothing short of a horror movie. I hope Pres Zuma will take opportunity to show leadership and demand this complete waste of SA Resources called off otherwise I think the poor will hold this ANC Government accountable in next election. Our country so misses the dignity of people such as Nelson Mandela and Arch Desmond Tutu to give us moral leadership

paul - 2010-12-13 00:05

How would the poor hold the ANC responsible for this? The majority live in absolute poverty and will never even know about this or any other similar blatant mismanagement of funds by our esteemed government. I'm afraid we won't see a change of government in our lifetimes. Then again, if your were in the same position, would you vote for the same people that suppressed you and your parents for years? I wouldn't...

Proudly SA - 2010-12-13 06:21

Paul, agree with you that there is much emotion about voting and will be tough for many not to vote ANC; it is such a pity that COPE is in such shambles as need for strong opposition critical. However, the Western Cape is an example of excellent governance and is doing far for many disadvantaged communities and infrastructure development than other province - MECs are active on the ground and poor performance by leaders not tolerated. Imagine the possibilities of R70M in good hands and how many would benefit rather than on a 9 day party with only regressive results

John - 2010-12-12 23:07

Aah, another PROUDLY South African event. Let's take a look at some of the speakers/criminals that will be there: Winnie, Julius and Jackie and the youth that supports Mr. Criminal himself, Bob Mugabe. Wow, doesn't it just make you proud...

BigD - 2010-12-13 05:15

This money could be better spent on service delivery instead to some youth that will want some more. The lotto should be investigated for brain cells, anyone with one brain cell would know what they are doing is SO wrong

Julius - 2010-12-13 06:06

Good to see our brothers from North Korea, Zimbabwe and Cuba.
I hope they can guide the future of our country

SUPER C - 2010-12-13 06:25

So apparently it's more important to support youth festivities than education, housing etc...

Allin - 2010-12-13 06:42

"He said the event held national and international importance and impacted on local youth development"
I'll believe you this time, but next time I talk cr@p you must believe me too...

Sue - 2010-12-13 06:46

I will no longer support the Lotto. Thought I was helping the needy, but seems they bullshit us into believing the monies being used for good. Hosting a Youth fest is NOT OK. It's not Government money, it belongs to the people of SA. This has to be stopped. Government and the National Lottery org's do not have the right to spend our money on festivals that have absolutely no impact on the less fortunate. Do we ever hear or see what come out of this, doubtful.....I really hope you all burn in hell and feel guilty about your actions. If it were not for SABC and MNET asking for help from the public, when in fact Lottery should be doing this, then hospitals, caregivers, etc would never benefit from what the Lottery is suppose to stand for. I'm beginning to hate this country more and more each day.

notlimited - 2010-12-14 16:14

i agree with you 100%.Have not bought a lotto ticket in ages because of the new ownership of the national lottery.What a f....g joke.

bjarkp - 2010-12-13 07:08

Give the monay to Joyce Meyer ministries, she feeds over 50000 starving children worldwide every day!! Why throw your money to the dogs, help save the world one child at a time.

Lionel - 2010-12-13 07:24

What absolute dribble by Alfred Nevhutanda. He was appointed by the ANC government via the Minister of Trade & Industry and also happens to be an ANC member. This after the Lotto also donated millions towards Bofona Bofona's training trips to Brazil and Germany before the SWC.

Nibiru - 2010-12-13 07:28

Dear earthlings please boycott the lotto

Mart - 2010-12-13 07:34

I will be approaching the Lotto Vendors in my area and asking them to 'pull the plug' on their Lotto machines for 2 days (Tues and Wednesday in protest against the 'theft of funds' by the 'incompetent Lotto Board.' The temptation is to go in with wire cutters and disconnect them myself but this is obviously illegal ?? The Board should be ashamed of their inability to observe the spirit and intentions of this Lottery and for bowing down to this request. It begs the question of how much more of the funds are being siphoned off and will be used to keep the ANC in power.
Like minded people who care must also take action against this abuse. If you have ever bought a Lotto ticket knowing that the money goes to a good cause,....'you have just been raped !!!'

Krush - 2010-12-13 08:23

Someone should hand out a memo to all the homeless and poverty stricken people and let them know 40 million is going to be handed out at the youth festival...

Krush - 2010-12-13 08:24

Malema is a sociopath/psychopath. He should be locked away in a mental institution not leading the youth.

exocist - 2010-12-13 08:28

ONLY FOOLS PLAY THE LOTTERY IT'S ONE BIG SCAM, IN THE BEGINING SOME LOTTO WINNERS WOULD BE IN THE NEWSPAPERS SINCE IT'S BEEN TAKEN OVER BY GIDANI I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE WINNER COME FORWARD YOU ONLY HEAR OF SOME WOMAN OR MAN WINNING HOW COME THERE'S A WINNER ALMOST EVERY DRAW, ABROAD IT IS CARRIED OVER FOR MONTHS AT A TIME DOES EACH SHAREHOLDER GET A CHANCE TO WIN? MAKES YOU WONDER WITH THE INCEPTION OF THE LOTTO IT WAS ONLY FOR CHARITIES TO BENEFIT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF GRANTS TO POLITICAL PARTY'S
WHATS NEXT MONEY FOR ANC REELECTION CAMPAIN,
PEOPLE DO THE RIGHT THING DON,T WASTE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY ON THE LOTTO REMEMBER THE GOOD BOOK IT'S NOT GOOD TO GAMBLE

To The Point - 2010-12-14 00:13

Is that right only 40m for a festival? Well seeing there is no poverty or unemployment in our fine land and all the homeless have been provided with mansions why can’t the youth league have a party for R40m, it is peanuts compared to billions wasted on other rubbish. Seeing this money is funded by the lotto can anyone explain - when the Lotto and Power ball pay out a million it is shared by 300+ ticket holders and when it pays out above R10 million up to 45 million only one ticket holder wins? (Smell a rat?)As donors to the Lotto scam and it being run in a democratic, fair, honest country do the public not have the right to know who the winners are why all the secrecy – in Europe they are named should anyone wish to investigate if they have “connections” Oh getting back to the festival they could not have selected more prominent upstanding honest people to lobby for this event. So relax people we live in the most transparent country in the world trust your leaders and enjoy the party should you be invited. Proudly South African.

rodneykdc - 2010-12-13 08:59

Lotto is just another EASY source of cash for a bunch of thugs . It @ SARS are one of the few things stilling running like a clock in NEW SA

Blue - 2010-12-13 10:17

HA HA...you mean the SARS that is now implicated in a Tender Fraud scam?...YES I AGREE!!...like clock work!!!

Sure Julius is smiling, prob got to stick another couple of million in his pockets.

Dalene - 2010-12-14 10:19

Why would you want to give money to people that only abuse and do not know how to behave why was something not arranged for the homeless and old age this when I can say that I am not proud to be part of this South Africa.

St.Andrew - 2010-12-14 12:10

Isnt Selebi supposed to be in jail?

shocked - 2010-12-14 14:14

Aren't half the government meant to be there with him?

johnstonel32 - 2010-12-14 23:14

There are so many charities that are supposed to benefit from the lotto - I didn't know that the 'youths and students' fell into this category - I agree with everyone else - boycott the lotto - donate the money you wouldv'e spent playing it to a shelter or the SPCA - all the govt. are doing is p*ssing the taxpayers money away & all the good public are doing is p*ssing against the wind cos it ain't gonna change

Johan Kruger - 2011-06-21 05:36

This is why I stopped playing Lotto.

Babba x - 2011-06-21 06:10

The ANC fat cats like to spend money on themselves rather than feeding their loyal "masses" support base. I have no pity on these "masses" for continuing to support these thieves

Anthony - 2012-01-19 02:08

Who is the idiot to have approved that? Is there no brains in this government? They are destroying on booze the
hard earned money of the people that dream to hit the big one by buying Lotto.That money belong to the people and not to Juju and his thieves. Enough is enough. Zuma must wake up and stop the spillage. It's disgrace and degrading of those in need. They see all those parties while their children are starving.
It can't have a happy ending. There is hunger in the land, and zuma obviously is not in a position to feed them. That job needs some skills, and is time to find the right man for it.

Sandy - 2012-01-19 08:08

The money not claimed in the lottery's should be given to help people who cant afford serious operations eg life threatening. What do you say.....

Sandy - 2012-01-19 08:12

Yep we go again, expensive slap up boozy occasions, all for the love of Malema and co !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

shakila.bali - 2012-01-19 09:27

Fat cats stay fat. It is so sad that people making these decisions (Powers that be) do not know how to spend money wisely, when health care and the education needs assistance. So many people are still waiting for basic services like water, and proper sanitation have to be supplied to them. People tell me how will this "Youth Festival" will be benefiting the people of this country????